Colin Clive


Colin Glenn Clive was a British theatre and film actor. Known for portraying individualistic, tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life, he is most famous for his role as Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein. Clive’s maniacal delivery of the words, "It's alive, it's alive!" when Dr. Frankenstein confirms his creature is moving, was listed by American Film Institute as one of the 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.

Early life

Clive was born in Saint-Malo, France, to an English colonel, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive, a member of the aristocratic Clive family. In a 1935 interview, Clive stated his mother had moved to France to escape the tumult of the ongoing Second Boer War. His family had intended for Clive to embark on a military career, and he attended Stonyhurst College and subsequently the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he broke both knees after being thrown from and crushed by a horse. Recuperating from his injuries, Clive decided to become an actor. He was a member of the Hull Repertory Theatre Company for three years.
Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat; the production featured Cedric Hardwicke and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.

Hollywood

Clive's first screen role, in Journey's End, was also directed by James Whale. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He starred as Edward Rochester in the 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was a descendant of Robert Clive and appeared in a starring role in Clive of India, a biopic of his ancestor. Clive remarked that he was disappointed he did not get to portray his own ancestor in the film.
Colin Clive, together with Leo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titled The Other Place. It was written by John L. Balderston for the radio program The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee. It was aired on 14 November 1935.
In a 1935 interview with Film Weekly, Clive stated that he hated horror films and preferred more serious dramatic roles, only appearing in horror for financial reasons and because his performances were popular with audiences.
When his agent discovered that Clive was only accruing 30% of his actual income due to paying taxes in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Clive refused to obtain American citizenship, which would have removed British taxes, fearing that it would prevent him from serving in the British army if a war broke out.
Author Ayn Rand wrote Clive a fan letter in 1934 after seeing a stage performance of Journey’s End, praising Clive’s performance and character. Clive responded that he was very touched by the letter and would always keep it.

Personal life

Clive was married to Jeanne de Casalis in June 1929. By 1935, Clive and Casalis had been living separately, with Clive in Los Angeles County and Casalis in London.

Death

Colin Clive suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and he died from complications of tuberculosis on 25 June 1937 at age 37.
Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars. He was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.
Forrest J Ackerman recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed in The Bride of Frankenstein." Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers was Peter Lorre. His remains were cremated and his ashes returned to England. His cenotaph is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Roles

Stage

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Date of 1st performanceTitleAuthorCityTheatreRole
1925 March 20Rose-MarieOtto Harbach, Rudolf Friml, Herbert StothartLondonDrury LaneEdward Hawley
1926 May 30Getting Mother MarriedNeil GrantLondonApolloCapt. Eric Wilbraham
1927 June 30FireArthur RoseLondonEveryman TheatreSt. John Sevening
1928 May 3Show BoatOscar Hammerstein II, Jerome KernLondonDrury LaneSteve
1928 November 4The Dark PathEvan JohnLondonSavoy TheatreJames Havilland
1929 January 21Journey's EndR. C. SherriffLondonSavoy TheatreCpt. Stanhope
1929 April 14Let's Leave It At ThatJeanne de Casalis, Colin CliveLondonPrince of Wales's TheatreMichael Stern
1929 April 23Shall We Join the Ladies?J. M. BarrieLondonPalaceTheatreMr. Vaile
1930 February 2Forty-SevenSydney LochLondonPrince of Wales's TheatreForty-Seven
1930 April 22HamletWilliam ShakespeareLondonHaymarket TheatreLaertes
1930 June 30The SwanFerenc MolnárLondonSt. James's TheatreDr. Nicholas Agi
1930 December 5OvertureWilliam BolithoNew YorkLongacre TheatreKarl Ritter
1931 May 21The Crime at BlossomsMordaunt ShairpLondonPlayhouse TheatreChristopher Merryman
1932 July 19EscapeJohn GalsworthyLondonGarrick TheatreMatt Denant
1932 August 22LoyaltiesJohn GalsworthyLondonGarrick TheatreRonald Dancy
1932 September 29JusticeJohn GalsworthyLondonGarrick TheatreWilliam Falder
1933 October 28Eight BellsPercy G. MandleyNew YorkHudson TheatreDale
1933 December 26The LakeDorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonaldNew YorkMartin Beck TheatreJohn Clayne
1935 December 20LibelEdward WoollNew YorkHenry Miller's TheatreSir Mark Loddon, Bart. M.P.

Film